No happy ending for home finale

ISLANDERS 3, LIGHTNING 1: Tampa Bay dominates early but can't hold off playoff-bound New York.

[Times photo: Dan McDuffie] Dave Scatchard brings down the Lightning's Sheldon Keefe in front of the Islanders net.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 13, 2002

TAMPA -- It would have been so easy for the Lightning to blame the referees for Friday night's 3-1 loss to the Islanders at the Ice Palace.

There was a goal that probably should have been waved off, double standards in penalty calling that seemed to favor New York and led to a goal, and a breakdown in law and order that saw 11 third-period penalties.

What was it that Lightning center Brad Richards called that period? Oh, yeah, "a gong show."

It would have been so easy to blame referees Tom Kowal and Chris Rooney. But like Richards said, "I have nothing to say about those idiots."

Instead, coach John Tortorella focused on the two things the Lightning needed to possibly win: one more save and one more goal.

The save was needed when Dave Scatchard poked the puck past Nikolai Khabibulin for a power-play goal and a 2-1 Islanders lead 9:29 into the third.

The goal would have fit in nicely anywhere after Dan Boyle gave the Lightning a 1-0 edge with 21.1 seconds left in the first.

"We had ample opportunities to score that second goal and we didn't," Tortorella said. "When you don't get to a team and get it to 2-0, you know it's going to come back and bite you. I'm not sure the Islanders came back and bit us, and that's a tough one to swallow."

The loss in the Lightning's final home game, before an announced 19,869, dropped Tampa Bay's record at the Ice Palace to 16-17-5-3, ensuring the 1995-96 playoff team remained the only Lightning squad to have a winning record at home.

The Islanders victory keeps alive their hope for an Atlantic Division title. New York, which played without Alexei Yashin (groin), has 94 points, one behind the first-place Flyers. If Philadelphia loses today to the Rangers, a showdown for the title is Sunday on Long Island.

"If Philly wins, they win the league," said New York's Jason Blake whose hustle with 48.1 seconds left set up Roman Hamrlik's empty-net goal. "If not, then Sunday is going to be a great game."

The Lightning, without Martin St. Louis (concussion), outshot the Islanders 25-20 and played well enough that New York coach Peter Laviolette said, "The coach has them playing great hockey. They play hard."

But that did not help the 0-for-6 power play. And it did not help when New York's Brad Isbister deflected Hamrlik's shot past Khabibulin to tie it at 1 with what appeared to be a high stick with 1:24 left in the second.

Replays seemed to show Isbister's stick at least shoulder high when he touched the puck. NHL Rule 61(c) states a player cannot score when striking the puck with a stick above the crossbar.

The crossbar is 4 feet high. Isbister is 6-4.

The goal stood despite a three-minute phone conference with the goal judge.

"It looked high to me," Tortorella said. "The explanation that was given to me was that upstairs couldn't determine if it was a high stick. The refs called it a goal so they go with what they call. That's the way it was sorted out to me, but you never know what they're thinking."

The goal came during a four-minute power play with defenseman Cory Sarich in the penalty box for hooking and unsportsmanlike conduct.

Fast forward to the third when New York's Michael Peca was called for holding the stick. Peca slammed the penalty box door shut and slammed his stick against the glass. No call.

"Cory goes one-on-one very quietly with the referee. I'm sure he didn't say too many good things, but it's a game of emotion," Tortorella said. "Michael Peca embarrasses him by slamming the door and banging his stick on the glass so everyone in the building can see it.

"I have a funny feeling the names have something to do with that. It's a little bit frustrating. But again, that's something the Tampa Bay Lightning is trying to fight through and gain respect."

One more goal and one more save would have helped.

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